Dining room table



May 25, 1965 V A. E. RAU 3,185,829

DINING ROOM TABLE Filed May 21, 1962 2 Shee ts-Sheet l V H i9 IN V EN TOR.

May 25, 1965 A. E. RAU

DINING ROOM TABLE INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,185,829 DENING RGOM TABLE Alien E. Rau, 417 Ferry SL, Turnwater, Wash. Filed May 21, 19562, Ser. No. 198,464 1 Claim. ($1. 240-4) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in table structures and more particularly is concerned with an illuminated dining room table.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 115,873, filed Iune 7, 1961, now abandoned by Allen B. Rau for Dining Room Table.

' .A primary object of the present invention is to provide a table structure employing novel means of illumination for lighting the table and also for lighting a room in which the table is incorporated.

A more particular object is to provide an illuminated table wherein there is employed a tank or reservoir for a liquid and lighting means disposed above the liquid to provide a lighting eifect both directly and by reflection off of the liquid in the tank; and also to provide in combination therewith a transparent table top through which light rays are transmitted.

Another object is to provide an illuminated table of the type described employing means to prevent light from the lighting means from shining directly in the occupants face.

Yet another object is to provide an illuminated table which has novel fluid inlet and discharge means, which for entertaining purposes may incorporate an aquarium, and which provides convenient seating for the occupants.

Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a table structure having a base portion which supports a frus-toconical upper tank portion on which in turn is supported a transparent table top. Incorporated within the tank are liquid inlet and discharge means for maintaining liquid in the tank at a selected level, or for draining it, and also illuminating means in the form of an annular light tube disposed above the Water level. The light tube, in addition to providing direct lighting for the table, also provides additional lighting by reflection off of liquid in the tank, thus serving effectively to illuminate the transparent table top and surrounding room area.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects thereof will become more apparent from the accompanying specification and claim considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the present table;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section, taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, showing diagrammatically liquid inlet and outlet means for the tank;

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the table with the top thereof removed; and

FIG. 4 is a central, vertical, sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing in detail the inner structure of the table.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present table employs a transparent top 1 seated on a frusto-conically shaped tank portion 2 having a bottom wall 2a. For supporting the transparent top 1, portion 2 has an angular horizontally disposed flange 2b which, as best apparent in FIG. 4, terminates in an inwardly disposed, vertical, annular portion Zc. Tank 2 is supported on a pedestal portion 3 having feet 11. As apparent from FIG. 4, the tank and the pedestal are formed as an integral sheet metal unit, although it is to be understood that they may be otherwise constructed. Pedestal 3 has a removable panel 12 for gaining access to the interior thereof.

Referring to FIG. 2, apertures 4 are provided in the table portion 2 adjacent the upper end thereof. These apertures ventilate the interior of the tank and serve, as one purpose, to prevent condensation from collecting on the under surface of table top 1.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show in detail the inner structure of the table, an annular light tube 5 is supported within the tank adjacent the undersurface of the table top 1. Such light tube may comprise a neon tube, and in a preferred mounting arrangement, such tube is supported by mounting brackets 5a attached to the inner surface of the tank 2. Suitable electric energy is provided for the light tube 5 through the medium of a transformer 13 connected to a plug-in member 14 by connections 13a and 13b.

Suitable electrical connection between the transformer 13 and the neon tube 5 is accomplished 'by lead wires 5d and 5e connected to terminals 512 and 50 at opposite ends of the neon tube 5, FIG. 3, the wires 5d and 5e being connected to the transformer by connections 13d and 130, respectively, at the transformer.

In order to prevent glare from the neon tube, the upper portion thereof is coated with an opaque paint or the like, and furthermore for this same purpose, a peripheral portion 1a of the table top area which overlies the tube may be mirrored, sandblasted, or suitably coated.

Liquid, such as water, is admitted into the tank through an inlet pipe is having an angular portion 6b parallel with the wall of the tank, and an annular, horizontally disposed outlet portion 60 disposed interiorly of the tank and adjacent the upper end thereof. Annular portion 6c is connected to the angular portion oh by a T-connection 6a, FIG. 3, and has a plurality of apertures 6e through which water is discharged into the tank. As apparent in FIG. 3, the annular portion 60 is of only slightly smaller diameter than that portion of the tank in the plane in which it is disposed, whereby if desired, the water level in the tank may be lowered such that water from the apertures 60 falls onto the inner surface of the reservoir and flows downwardly to the water level in the form of a water fall. Or, if desired, the apertures may comprise spray nozzles to produce a sprayed effect.

Incorporated in inlet pipe 6 is a valve 9 for controlling the flow of water through the pipe.

Located centrally of the table is a standpipe 7 secured to the bottom wall 2:: of the reservoir by means of nuts 7 c and 7d thre-adedly mounn-ted on the standpipe and engaging opposite sides of the wall. Pipe 7 has an upper portion 7b extending into the tank 2, and this portion terminates in a support element 7a for centrally supporting the table top '1. The standpipe portion '7 b has an overflow opening 7k for maintaining the water at a selected level in the reservoir.

A drain pipe 10, having an open upper end, is also mounted in the bottom wall 2a of the reservoir by means of nuts 71 and 71' threadedly mounted on the drain pipe and engaging opposite sides of the bottom wall. This drain pipe is connected to the standpipe 7 through the medium of a T-connection 7e on the standpipe '7, and a nipple 7 and valve 7g. The drain pipe it? projects a few inches above the bottom wall of the tank, whereby if desired a layer of sand 3, FIG. 2, may be placed in the tank without plugging the drain pipe. The Water in the tank can thus be drained substantially to the level of the sand.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the tank 2 may be filled with water by closing valve 7g and opening valve 9. The latter valve may be shut off when the water level reaches the overflow opening 7k so that still water conditions exist in the reservoir, or, if desired, to have a continual flow of water or a spray pattern, the valve 9 is only partially opened. Overflow water is discharged through opening 7k, the overflow carrying away Patented May 25, 1965 :3 any dirt particles or the like which exist on the surface of the water. If desired, the tank 2 may be made into an aquarium.

With the neon tube 5 lighted and water in the tank, illumination is received directly from the neon tube as well as from the reflection of light off the water. This illuminates the table top as well as room areas around the table.

It will thus be apparent that by providing a plurality of the tables in a room, such as in a dining room, adequate lighting for dining results solely fromthe tables. The transparent top 1 and the tank 2 in combination with the lighting effects produce an aesthetic effect for dining, and by the particular arrangement described does not produce harsh lighting effects to areas occupied by persons seated at the table.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A dining table comprising a tank portion closed at its bottom end and adapted to hold a supply of liquid, the upper end of the tank portion having an annular inwardly extending horizontal flange section terminating at its inner edge in a downwardly directed annular section, the space Within said downwardly directed annular section defining the open upper end of the tank portion, a transparent table top supported on the horizontal flange section and covering the open upper end of the tank portion, a liquid inlet pipe projecting into the tank and terminating at its upper end below the downwardly directed annular section in an annular, horizontally disposed pipe portion having a plurality of outlet openings for admitting liquid into the tank, means in the tank defining an overflow opening spaced above the bottom end of the tank but below the horizontally disposed pipe portion, and annular lighting means disposed interiorly of the tank outwardly and above the bottom end of said downwardly directed annular section for lighting the table top by reflection otf liquid in the tank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,869 10/18 Stillwaggon 240-2 X 1,438,133 12/22 ORourke 23918 1,998,967 4/35 Raynolds 24046.49 X 2,090,248 8/ 37 Chakow 2404 2,133,740 10/38 Donohoue 1195 2,678,996 5/54 Johnson 24046.49 X 2,759,546 8/56 Zabriskie 2402 X 2,817,004 12/57 Baumgartner et al. 24051.12

FOREIGN PATENTS 796,574 1/ 36 France.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

EMIL G. ANDERSON, Examiner. 

